Sanjay Manjrekar’s big statement: “Rohit Sharma will not be my choice in the 2027 World Cup team”, questions raised on selection

Former Indian cricketer and cricket analyst Sanjay Manjrekar has given a big statement regarding the possible place of Rohit Sharma in the Indian team for the 2027 ODI World Cup. He clearly said that if the team selection is done from today’s perspective, then he does not consider Rohit Sharma as his first choice in the 2027 World Cup team.

Rohit Sharma has been included in the Indian team for the ODI series against England next month. However, discussions have intensified regarding his fitness, form and increasing age till the 2027 World Cup. Meanwhile, Manjrekar’s comment has sparked a new debate.

“This statement may be controversial”

During a discussion on Sony Sports, when Sanjay Manjrekar was asked whether he sees Rohit Sharma in the 2027 World Cup squad, he candidly expressed his opinion.

He said, “I know this statement may be controversial, but I don’t care about it. I have been openly expressing my opinion for years. It is now mid-2026 and the World Cup will be played in late 2027.”

He said that the selection should not be based only on the reputation of any big player, but should be done keeping in mind the long-term interests of Indian cricket.

“Think about the future of Indian cricket”

Manjrekar said that the selectors should not just think about Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, but should see who is the best option for Indian cricket.

He said, “When we choose the team, we often think of names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but we should think about the future of Indian cricket.”

According to him, the role of opening batsman is very important in ODI cricket and this responsibility should be given to a player who can stay with the team for the next five to ten years.

Young players should get a chance

Sanjay Manjrekar believes that India now has many young opening options. He indicated that keeping the future in mind, it is more important to prepare young batsmen.

In recent times, young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal have been performing well and are making strong claims for the future. In such a situation, the selectors will be faced with the challenge of striking a balance between experienced and young players.

Praise for Virat Kohli’s fitness

Although Manjrekar raised questions on Rohit Sharma, he praised Virat Kohli’s fitness.

He said that Virat Kohli still remains a strong contender for the 2027 World Cup due to his extraordinary fitness.

Manjrekar said that Kohli’s fitness level gives him the ability to play international cricket for a long time.

Experienced players return for England tour

Experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have returned to the Indian team for the ODI series against England.

Virat Kohli has returned to the team after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Jasprit Bumrah will lead the fast bowling attack. Along with him, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Gurnoor Brar have also got a chance.

KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan will handle the responsibility of wicketkeeping, while the spin department includes Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

Sunil Gavaskar expressed confidence

Great Indian cricket batsman Sunil Gavaskar has described the England tour as a big opportunity for young players.

He said that this tour will be a great platform for the next generation of Indian players to prove themselves. Also, the presence of experienced players will provide balance and strength to the team.

Keep an eye on 2027 World Cup selection

There is still more than a year left for the 2027 ODI World Cup, but discussions regarding team selection have already started.

Rohit Sharma’s fitness, performance and the contention of young players is going to be a big issue for the selectors in the coming months. Sanjay Manjrekar’s statement has further intensified the debate on whether India should rely on experience or hand over the responsibility to the new generation keeping the future in mind.